However, this Friday, “by reversing the vertical component of interplanetary magnetic field, the event geoefectividad increased significantly, and the magnetic storm reached severe levels (G3),” an escalation of five.

The increased intensity has caused “extensive blockages in high radio frequency” and an increase in the margin of error of positioning systems (GPS) and Northern Lights have been seen in Seattle (Washington) and Sheridan (Wyoming ), in America, but have not reported problems with power grids, he said.

The sun goes through regular cycles of activity and every 11 years or so there is a peak in activity in the storms that often occur at times distorted and even cross the Earth’s magnetic field.

Araujo said that we are currently in the upswing of the solar cycle and the maximum is expected to occur sometime in 2013, so that “the activity will continue to increase during this period.”

In fact, the U.S. space agency NASA, has recorded another coronal mass ejection is expected to hit Earth on March 11 and, according to the expert, “predicted a magnetic storm of similar intensity to which we are experiencing now “.

The event is probably the strongest in nearly six years, said Joseph Kunches, a specialist in U.S. space weatherWASHINGTON, March 7. – A geomagnetic storm is moving from the Sun to the Earth, and its arrival is scheduled for Thursday which could affect power grids, roads and aircraft navigation systems, space satellite, U.S. experts said.The storm, a cloud of charged particles ejected from the Sun to about 7.2 million miles per hour, had its origin in a pair of solar flares, scientists said.

This is probably the strongest event in nearly six years, and is probably more intense than a similar storm occurred in late January, said Joseph Kunches, a space weather specialist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA .)

In the view of the solar disturbance Kunches this is a matter of three stages and the first two are already affecting the Earth:

Firstly, two solar flares that were traveling near the speed of light reached Earth on Tuesday night. These flares can cause radio blackouts.

Subsequently, solar radiation reach the Earth’s magnetic field on Wednesday, causing a potential impact on air traffic, especially near the poles, satellites and any astronaut who perform spacewalks. This phase can last several days.

Finally, it is expected that the plasma cloud sent by the coronal mass ejection, which is basically a large part of the Sun’s atmosphere, comes to Earth early Thursday.

This phase can affect power grids, satellites, pipelines and high-precision GPS systems, used by oil drillers, surveyors and some agricultural operations, scientists said.

Radiation affects all satellites and astronauts in space. Communication can cause problems to aircraft in flight recorders, a physicist at the Center said Doug Biesecker.

Radiation Sunday’s storm arrived at Earth an hour later and will probably continue until Wednesday. The levels are considered severe, but there have been other storms stronger. It is the most intense radiation from about May 2005.

The radiation-in the form of protons, arrives from the sun 150 million kilometers (93 million miles) per hour.

“The entire volume of space between here and Jupiter is filled with protons and one of them is not released just like that,” said Biesecker. That is why the effects will last a couple of days.

Surgeons solar space and NASA experts studied the possible effects and determined that the six astronauts in the International Space Station in orbit need not do anything to protect against radiation, said spokesman Rob Navias.

The solar flare is followed by three movements, said Antti Pulkkinen, a physicist at NASA in Maryland and Catholic University.

First there is electromagnetic radiation. After the protons are emitted. Finally it is clear the plasma of the solar surface, which usually travels at 1.6 to 3.2 million kilometers (1 to 2 million miles) per hour, but this storm is particularly fast and fires 6.4 million km (4 million miles) per hour, said Biesecker.

Is the plasma that causes many of the problems on Earth, such as power failure. A 1989 solar storm caused a massive blackout in Quebec.

This detachment is likely to be moderate, although the possibility of intensified, he said!